Applications for doctoral programmes

How to prepare
If you are thinking if applying for a place on a doctoral programme, leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph D) degree or a professional doctorate, these notes will provide some initial thoughts on how to decide whether a doctorate is what you want and how to go about preparing your application. There are numerous publications, some of which are referred to at the end of this handout which offer guidance on how to manage and complete doctoral research. The advice here is intended to supplement the comments in those publications and to provide some support with the application processes. They have been prepared in collaboration with academic staff, whose valuable assistance is gratefully acknowledged. I want to do a doctorate. What do I do first? Undertaking a doctoral work is a very personal decision. Everyone has different reasons why they want to do one and it is important to be clear about what your motivation might be and exactly what commitment is involved. You may decide to work towards a professional doctorate such as a Doctor of Education or Doctor of Business Administration. Alternatively, you might decide to complete the traditional Doctor of Philosophy programme or Ph D as people usually call it. Ph D degrees are available for just about every type of academic discipline and are awarded on successful completion of a thesis, based on a programme of original research. These programmes can be full or part time (or a combination of both) and generally last around 3 4 years on average. However, students typically enrol for a specified period and would generally aim to complete their work in that time. The very nature of this type of degree, means that students need to be extremely interested in independent research and while a doctorate can be well suited to a very wide range of career paths, it would especially suit those who want to pursue an academic, specialist or research based career. How can I get a place? Once a student has decided on the doctoral programme they wish to pursue, the next step will generally be to secure a place but what will course selectors be looking for when they are assessing applications for places? Some doctoral programmes will be advertised, whereas for others you may need to write to a particular department indicating your interest and chosen field of research, through submitting a proposal, or plan, of your research intentions. 1

It is important to note that there is no national system, like UCAS or NMAS, for applications for doctoral study programmes. Application systems will vary from one institution, sometimes from one department, to another and it is very important to contact the relevant staff to establish exactly how and when you need to apply. Once you have done this, you need to make sure that you follow application procedures carefully, observing any important deadlines. Whatever type of programme you are applying for, you will need to demonstrate that you are able to succeed and that you understand what doctoral research is about. You will generally be asked to show evidence of positive responses to the following questions: Are you capable of original thought? Do you have a particular research idea or want to answer a specific research question? Can you show you have an enquiring mind? Do you have a good general knowledge and, more specifically, knowledge of your chosen subject area? Are you a self starter, highly motivated to work independently? Can you express ideas using succinct, clear, grammatically correct writing? Can you provide evidence of academic excellence; for example, through a good first degree and so on? Are you organised and good at managing your own time? Do you have a clear purpose for taking on a doctorate and perhaps a future plan of how you will benefit from completing one?

You may be asked to write a formal proposal (as mentioned above,) prepare an abstract, complete an application form or initially meet an expert tutor in the field and decide on a topic for research prior to applying. In any application, it is important to be able to describe your ideas clearly and in a well produced format, explaining what you want to do, why you want to research your chosen discipline and how you intend to go about it. You might also need to provide some referencing for your ideas so it would be useful, perhaps essential, to have done some reading around your chosen academic specialism. Current or previous study might have provided the opportunity to contribute to academic journal publications or attend specialist conferences. Also, you might have acquired important work or voluntary experience or practical experience in the field related to your chosen subject. It is important to keep records of any appropriate experience or attainments such as these (especially any research work which you have completed or with which you have assisted) so that you can elaborate upon them, if necessary, when applying. For some programmes, admissions staff may look for evidence that you have the potential to lead research teams in the future. This may not always be a requirement so it is important to check individual departmental requirements prior to completing the application. If 2

you are told that this attribute will be looked for, then it is important to prepare your case thoroughly, gathering and presenting any relevant evidence. Check, too, whether there are any other aspects of the application process? For example, will your chosen department have any exercises for you to complete such as being presented with a draft of an academic paper and asked to write an abstract for it so that your skills of concise written communication can be assessed. What else might I need to be able to provide? In order to answer this question, it is useful to think about exactly what doing a doctorate involves: Pursuing doctoral study is an experience that will vary according to the individual. Workloads can be high and it is therefore important to think about your reasons for applying. Ensure that your personal circumstances are well suited to the nature of the work. For example, are you going to be able to have the time to visit libraries, use the internet, conduct research and so on? Do you have sufficient space at home, work or elsewhere to be able to do reading and paperwork relating to your studies? Doctoral study requires a lot of stamina, determination and the ability to work alone for much of the time. You will need to show evidence of this when you apply. What are the next steps? Now that we have considered some of the key aspects of applying to start a research degree, we need to turn to the question of what to do next. The varying range of research interests among students, the highly individual nature of the work they intend to undertake and the admissions policies of specific departments will, of course, mean that the process of gaining a place will alter from place to another. It is essential to speak to the relevant staff in the appropriate academic departments about your plans prior to applying for a place. In summary, you may find the following steps helpful: Be clear about your motivation to tackle a research degree Establish which department can provide you with the necessary support, facilities and supervision Discuss your plans with the staff and clarify exactly how they want you to apply Be clear about any closing dates that may exist if any exist, observe them carefully! Make early plans concerning funding. It is important to know, and to be able to explain, where the necessary financial support is coming from, and that it is going to be adequate

If you need to apply for financial support, ensure that this is also done according to the published procedures - and in good time! Ask for help if necessary. There are numerous members of staff in academic departments and in the various student services teams who can help you to prepare for your higher degree and make a successful transition on to a future career path afterwards.

How can the Universitys Careers service help? Purple Door Careers and Recruitment provide individual and confidential advice on the whole range of career options including postgraduate study and are located in the Purple Door Centre 28 Guildhall Walk. We also offer: a graduate vacancy service; A full, up to date, information library Advice on CVs and other forms of application; Talks to groups on various aspects of career choice details appear on our website Regular graduate employment events Practice psychometric tests; Electronic and on-line interest guides to help with career choice. Our colleagues in Purple Door Recruitment also offer a placement service for work experience and volunteering opportunities. Our centre is easily accessible, including wheelchair access, and details of our opening times can be found on our website: www.port.ac.uk/careersandrecruitment. We can also be contacted by telephone: (02392) 842684 and by e-mail: careersandrecruitment@port.ac.uk We encourage students to call in person if seeking information and advice but for students who for any reason find it difficult to call in, we also offer an e-guidance facility. Details are located on our website, address above. If considering a research degree, it will also be useful to look at the web pages of individual departments and the Universitys registry: www.port.ac.uk/departments/services/academicregistry/qualitymanagementdivision/research degrees Individual departments can advise on relevant application procedures. It is essential to consult department tutors prior to making an application.

What References could provide further information? There is no substitute for speaking to staff in the department where you want to conduct your research. However, there are quite a few publications on this subject that will be of use to any student considering reading for a doctorate. Some of these are available in the University Library (www.port.ac.uk/library) and the library on-line catalogue will provide more details.

Disclaimer: We (The University of Portsmouth) have checked the accuracy and source of the information contained in this publication and believe it to have been correct at the time of printing. However, patterns of course provision and employment opportunities can change periodically. We therefore, cannot accept any responsibility for any inaccuracies or changes that might occur. Potential applicants are advised to check, with specific academic departments, whether courses or programmes selected suit their needs, interests and abilities.